Effective immediately, Jeff Ireland will assume full control over all aspects and decisions in regard to the Miami Dolphin football team and support staff. This was the intent of the structure put in place in the past. Bill Parcells will remain with the club on a daily consultant basis.

Parcells move could be all about helping Ireland and Sparano survivePosted by Mike Florio on September 7, 2010 4:46 PM ET

The sudden announcement that Dolphins V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells has shifted from V.P. of football operations to a consulting position raises many questions -- and also confirms what many believed when G.M. Jeff Ireland was hired away from the Cowboys.

As to that point, the Dolphins were able to hire Ireland because the Dolphins supposedly gave Ireland final say over all football decisions. But few folks who "get it" believed that Ireland actually got that level of authority. By announcing today that Ireland "will assume full control over all aspects and decisions in regard to the Miami Dolphin football team and support staff," the Dolphins essentially admitted that he didn't possess such power previously, which suggests that the Dolphins lured Ireland from Dallas under false pretenses.

So why did Parcells slide into a new role now, only five days before the first regular-season game of the year? For starters, keep in mind that Parcells' contract, which runs through 2011, allows him to leave at any time and to collect the balance of his salary -- and also to go work for someone else. As we've heard it, Parcells was reluctant to make a complete and total exit, since that would have exposed Ireland and coach Tony Sparano to the likely arrival of Carl Peterson as the new head of the football operations. Peterson and owner Stephen Ross already have a friendship and a business relationship, via the in-stadium video device known previously as Kangaroo TV and now known as GameDay Vision.

If Peterson had arrived as the new boss, Peterson eventually would have wanted to hire his own G.M. and his own head coach, just as Parcells did when he took over in 2008. As a result, Ireland and Sparano would have been auditioning to stick around for a guy who wouldn't have been inclined to keep them.

With Parcells leaving but also staying, Ireland and Sparano can audition for Ross without Peterson or anyone else serving as the filter. If the Dolphins do well under Ireland and Sparano, Ross could decide that he doesn't need Peterson or anyone else to take over the team.

Meanwhile, Parcells gets to partially exercise his shrewdly-crafted cash-and-carry clause, reducing his duties but still getting paid full freight. And who knows? If the Dolphins finish deep in the playoffs this year, Parcells could cut the cord completely and go work for someone else, confident that Ireland and Sparano won't be run off by Parcells' successor.

Fundamentally, then, we believe Parcells' decision was less about Parcells making a money grab and more about Parcells trying to help Ireland and Sparano stay with the team after Parcells has made his exit. And it demonstrates the kind of loyalty that has become more the exception than the rule in pro and college sports.

If he did leave it would be a different situation. He's very good friends with both Ireland and Sparano. If anything, Parcells has shown that he is a loyal friend to those he chooses to call friends.

I agree Dave , thats why Ireland & Sparano will follow him.

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Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:24 pm

apatos13

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

So Parcells is looking to leave at the end of this year. That tells us he'spretty confident in the team he helped build. Its up to Sparano to get thebest out of it, and Ireland to maintain it.

Lets hope that no matter how the season turns out, Our owner doesn'tdecide to pull in Peterson. A change to the regime will be like starting back at zero before this team has a chance to prove anything.

I'm not saying I'm the biggest fan of Sparano or Ireland, and I oftenwonder if both aren't stuck in the past too much, but I want to see whatthe phins can do under them. I expect this year, whether we end up inthe playoffs or not, to be a primer for a deep run next year...possibly aSuperbowl. This team has enough talent to do it.

Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:34 pm

Iowafin

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

I don't know or care who's got the reigns, I just want them to get good football players and I want them to get to the Super Bowl. How's that for simplification?

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Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:37 pm

bobby0112

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

Wow. This season has been full of twists and surprises and they haven't played a regular season game yet. I'm more concerned about all the turnover in the bottom part of the roster in the last week than I am about Parcells turning over the day to day control. If the Dolphins don't really show improvement and progress this season, we could be looking at another regime change and a new direction. Sparano better hope all these new faces and last minute roster changes get him to 9-7 or better this year.

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Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:16 pm

wkloiber13

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

The Tuna is likely going elsewhere in 2011. I just hope we can keep the team/staff intact long enough to win a Super Bowl. The pieces are in place, now it's just about execution.

I think he retires after this. The man is pretty old guys. Something like this usually comes after a major health issue that is currently covered up. This is not how he left Dallas, NE, NY or the other NY.

Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:54 pm

FrustratedFinFan

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

....deserting the sinking ship???

If we end up a mediocre 7-9 or so, and Parcells and company shuffle off, does anyone really think that is a good situation with regard to the future of the team??? Then again, if we have another mediocre 7-9 year I guess change might be in order anyway.

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Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:48 pm

10acjed

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

No superbowl rings at the last 3 teams under his reigns, this will be team # 4, no meddling owners or GM's forcing him out the door...

If he leaves, he looses what little respect he has left...

Just calling it how I see it..... I like having him here too, but if he leaves I wont blink.... From the looks of Dal and NE they can fend well without him...

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No superbowl rings at the last 3 teams under his reigns, this will be team # 4, no meddling owners or GM's forcing him out the door...

If he leaves, he looses what little respect he has left...

Just calling it how I see it..... I like having him here too, but if he leaves I wont blink.... From the looks of Dal and NE they can fend well without him...

I agree but he could care less. I think he will always be viewed as a Giant & when all is said & done he will consider himself one as well.

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Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:09 am

Rich

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

FrustratedFinFan wrote:

....deserting the sinking ship???

In case you forgot, the ship sunk in 2007 and is once again afloat...

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Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:57 am

Big Dave

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

I am sure that none of this is a surprise to the owner ... who has probably discussed this move in entirety. And it looks like he has a lot of respect for Ireland.

Barry Jackson wrote:

Owner Stephen Ross thinks very highly of Jeff Ireland (who was given full personnel control by Bill Parcells) and believes his controversy involving Dez Bryant was unfairly portrayed, Ross' close associate said.

What a great point. Before we start throwing stones and protesting .500-ish with a shot at the playoffs let's give a salute to 2007

Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:57 am

jammer

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

Rome wasn't built in a day. The Trifecta has given us Henne, Pennington, Marshall, Long, Starks, Davis, Wake, Dansby, Bess, and some promising other young talent. They wisely extended Carey, Bell and Crowder, and have cut their mistakes very quickly and efficiently. Throw in a better O-line and creative plays to maximize Brown and Williams. I can rest comfortably knowing that is what the future is building upon.

2007 gave us Green, Beck, Chatman, Porter, Ginn, Satele, Camarillo, and the final days of Thomas and Taylor (or just about final in his case). No confidence, no trust and a bleak future comparable to the current Buffalo situation.

I don't think Ireland and Sparano were sharpening pencils while Parcells ran the whole show. Where the team was when they started and where they are today is amazing. A lot of organizations might endure years of 4 to 6 win seasons before reaching .500 with a foundation.

Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:29 am

degs

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

FrustratedFinFan wrote:

if we have another mediocre 7-9 year I guess change might be in order anyway.

Totally disagree. Even if they went 7-9 I wouldn't be interested in a new regime and YET ANOTHER start over.

Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:13 am

Big Dave

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

degs wrote:

FrustratedFinFan wrote:

if we have another mediocre 7-9 year I guess change might be in order anyway.

Totally disagree. Even if they went 7-9 I wouldn't be interested in a new regime and YET ANOTHER start over.

We're one of the youngest teams in the league with 19 players with 1-2 years experience. I'm pretty giddy about this team myself. We're young and competitive. No one is looking at their schedule and thinking "breather".

Im getting tired of incompetence and the revolving door of management and coaching staff. After getting used to having Shula at the reigns for so long, this crap is getting old. It would be nice to get someone who is competent and interested in staying for the long haul.

Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:08 pm

FrustratedFinFan

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Re: Jeff Ireland assumes full control over all aspects/decisions

Yep...something to be said for a coaching staff that can stay together and get it done over a long period with consistency. It requires patience. I think Miami fans are kind of antsy, because the team has been mediocre for quite some time....after the great run with Shula.

Look at Pittsburgh, for example. Long runs for the coaches. Not always a playoff team....but very rarely a bad team. The traditions seem to rub off on each new crop of players. It has been awhile since the Dolphins have had that kind of mystique about them.

_________________Philbin's countenance exudes confidence!1984 was so long ago...Will there ever be another rainbow?